# Petrol sales down 5% and diesel 11% in September as pump price nears Rs 390

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/petrol-sales-down-5percent-and-diesel-11percent-in-september-as-pump-price-nears)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 2 Oct 2026
Updated: 2 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 2 Oct 2026

> Pakistan's oil sales fell 2% to 1.35 million tonnes in September, and 8% without furnace oil. PSO gained share while Wafi and Hascol shrank.

Pakistanis bought **5% less petrol** in September 2026 than a year earlier, and **11% less diesel**, as pump prices climbed towards Rs 390 a litre. Total petroleum product sales fell **2% year on year to 1.35 million tonnes**, according to Topline Securities figures reported by Business Recorder on Friday. Without furnace oil, sales were down **8%**.

## September 2026 petroleum sales at a glance

| Product | September 2026 | vs Sept 2025 | vs August 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Petrol (motor spirit) | 652,000 tonnes | down 5% | down 2% |
| High-speed diesel | 525,000 tonnes | down 11% | up 25% |
| Furnace oil | 93,000 tonnes | up 601% | down 5% |
| Other products | 76,000 tonnes | down 8% | |
| **Total** | **1.35 million tonnes** | **down 2%** | **up 7%** |

The 601% jump in furnace oil comes from a very low base: about 13,000 tonnes were sold in September 2025. Strip it out and the picture for ordinary road fuel is a clear fall.

## Why petrol sales are falling

The petrol price has run from the low Rs 200s to **Rs 390.66 a litre** (PSO's ex-depot Karachi price on 2 October, on our [petrol price page](/data/petrol-price)) on the back of the Gulf shipping disruption and a petroleum levy above Rs 100 a litre. Higher prices mean fewer litres bought, and the September numbers are the first full month at these levels.

Diesel rose 25% on August but is still 11% below last September. Today's diesel rate is on our [diesel price page](/data/diesel-price).

The government's Rs 100 a litre fuel relief for bikes, rickshaws and small cars, which 7.5 million people have used since 15 September ([fuel relief scheme](/news/economy/fuel-relief-scheme)), cushions the poorest riders but is capped at 20 to 30 litres a month, so it does not reverse the trend.

## Who sold what

- **Pakistan State Oil:** 639,000 tonnes, up 12% year on year and 12% on August, taking a bigger share of a smaller market.
- **Attock Petroleum:** 116,000 tonnes, flat on last year.
- **Wafi Energy (formerly Shell Pakistan):** 110,000 tonnes, down 6%.
- **Hascol:** 37,000 tonnes, down 14%.

For the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year (July to September), total sales were **4.12 million tonnes, up 6%**, but flat at 3.85 million tonnes once furnace oil is excluded.

## What it means for you

Less fuel sold means less petroleum levy collected, which is the government's biggest non-tax revenue line, so watch the next fortnightly price reviews this month for any change in the levy. To see what your own driving costs at today's price, use our [fuel cost calculator](/tools/cars/fuel-cost-calculator).

## Frequently asked questions

**How much petrol did Pakistan sell in September 2026?**

652,000 tonnes, down 5% from September 2025, according to Topline Securities data. Diesel sales were 525,000 tonnes, down 11%.

## Sources

- Pakistan petroleum sales fall 2% YoY in September (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40442339/pakistan-petroleum-sales-fall-2-yoy-in-september
- PM reviews progress on Fuel Relief Scheme (APP): https://www.app.com.pk/national/pm-reviews-progress-on-fuel-relief-scheme/

How to cite: "Petrol sales down 5% and diesel 11% in September as pump price nears Rs 390", Searchable, 2 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/petrol-sales-down-5percent-and-diesel-11percent-in-september-as-pump-price-nears